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| TPWD News Releases Dated 2010-10-21 |
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[ Note: This item is more than six years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ]
[ Additional Contacts: Richard Dennis, Office: 512.463.0688, Mobile: 512.573.9347, Richard.dennis@house.state.tx.us ]
Oct. 21, 2010
Recreational Boating Safety Hearing Oct. 29 in Austin
The Advisory Panel on Recreational Boating Safety will convene at 10 a.m. Oct. 29 in room E2.036 inside the capitol extension at 1400 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.
The meeting will include a panel discussion regarding proposed recommendations involving boating insurance, instructional video, and mandatory boating education for individuals born after 1971.
The hearing will be open to the public, and anyone is invited to attend. Additionally, comments for the panel to consider can be e-mailed to richard.dennis@house.state.tx.us.
The Advisory Panel on Recreational Boating Safety was established by House Bill 3108 of the 81st Legislature, authored by State Rep. Tan Parker and sponsored by Sen. Chris Harris. For more information, please contact the following:
Lance BruunChairman, Advisory Panel on Recreational Boating Safety361-884-8300
Richard DennisChief of Staff, Representative Tan Parker512-463-0688
Harold StoneDirector of Intergovernmental Affairs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department512-389-4530
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[ Note: This item is more than six years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ] [TH]
Oct. 21, 2010
Record Number of Whooping Cranes Expected To Reach Texas This Fall
AUSTIN - Things are looking up for the endangered whooping crane. The bird made news two years ago when a record number of crane deaths were reported during drought conditions on the Texas coast. But according to state and federal biologists, flock numbers have rebounded, and a new record high number of cranes should start arriving on the Texas coast later this month.
According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Tom Stehn, the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes rebounded to 264 in the winter of 2009-10, back from 247 at the end of the 2008-09 winter. With 46 chicks fledging from a record 74 nests in August 2010 the flock size should reach record levels this fall -- expected to be somewhere around 290. Once numbering only 21 birds on earth, the previous population high was 270 in the fall of 2009.
Texas' winter flock of whooping cranes (the birds summer and nest in northwestern Canada in Wood Buffalo National Park) represents the last remaining "natural" flock of whooping cranes in the wild, and, according to Lee Ann Linam, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist, Texas plays an important role it the species' future recovery.
"Under good conditions, Texas' coastal wetlands provide a variety and abundance of food and fresh water that normally lead to excellent survival of whoopers over the winter," Linam said. "Such excellent winter survival has greatly aided the species' amazing comeback."
Whooping cranes winter in wetlands along a section of the Texas coast ranging from approximately Seadrift to Rockport, including at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Linam notes that public and private landowners within the region are collaborating in habitat management efforts for whooping cranes, but potential threats still exist, such as oil spills, coastal development, and reduced freshwater inflows.
Texas also plays an important role in conserving whooping cranes as they migrate through the state. The cranes usually pass through a migration corridor that extends from the Texas Panhandle eastward to Dallas-Fort Worth and southward to the central coast wintering grounds. Their flight path would take them over cities such as Wichita Falls, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, and Victoria. The majority of the cranes pass south through Texas from late October through the end of November.
Whooping cranes are the tallest birds in North America, standing over four feet tall. They are solid white in color except for black wing-tips visible only in flight. They fly with necks and legs outstretched. During migration they often pause overnight to use wetlands for roosting and agricultural fields for feeding, but seldom remain more than one night. They nearly always migrate in small groups of less than four-to-five birds, but they may be seen roosting and feeding with large flocks of smaller sandhill cranes. Hunters are advised to learn to tell the difference between whooping cranes and sandhill cranes, a popular game bird.
Whooping cranes are protected by federal and state endangered species laws, and Texans can help safeguard this national treasure by helping to prevent harm or harassment to whooping cranes. Anyone sighting a whooping crane is asked to report it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, extension 4644 or (512) 847-9480. Sightings can also be reported via e-mail at leeann.linam@tpwd.texas.gov.
Additional aids to help people identify whooping cranes can be found on the TPWD whooping crane Web page and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service migratory bird Web page. Information about nature tourism opportunities to view wintering whooping cranes can be obtained from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Web site or the Rockport Chamber of Commerce Web site.
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On the Net:
http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/?o=whooper
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/SandhillCranes/SandhillCraneHunters.htm
http://www.rockport-fulton.org/
http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/news_images/?g=whooping_cranes
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[ Note: This item is more than six years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ]
[ Additional Contacts: Tamberly Conway, Conservation Education Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service; (337) 304-5872; tkconway@fs.fed.us ]
Oct. 21, 2010
Galveston FOCUS Event to Feature Children Creating Mural with Artist Wyland
ATHENS -- Internationally known artist Wyland will be painting a mural with the help of children at an environmental event called FOCUS (Forests, Ocean, Climate and Us) in Galveston on Oct. 23.
This one-day public educational event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Artist Boat offices at 2415 Avenue K in downtown Galveston. The event is part of a national effort by the Wyland Foundation, U.S. Forest Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that utilizes art to educate communities about the importance of water and natural resource conservation, and the fragile interdependencies between forests, the ocean, the climate and people.
"We invite everyone to join in the celebration of the beautiful connections between art and nature," said event coordinator Tamberly Conway, conservation education coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service.
Highlights of the event include tree seedling giveaways, specially priced kayak tours through Artist Boat, self-guided Galveston tree sculpture tours, an Aztec dance performance by Chikawa, special appearances by Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl, as well as the opportunity to participate in the painting of murals that will be displayed in public venues through 2011. The first 750 registrants will receive environmentally sensitive water bottles.
The public is invited to participate in special hands-on learning activities provided by additional sponsors including Galveston Bay Foundation, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Gulf Coast Spanish and Science Clubs, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Tree Folks Inc., The Galveston Tree Conservancy, The Texas Forest Service, and U.S. Forest Service/Stephen F. Austin State University Latino Legacy.
The event's website is: http://web.me.com/dclipson1/Focus/Focus_Home.html
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